What Should You Do When Someone Thinks You’re *Worldly*, Yet You’re Seeking Godliness?

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body. – James 3:2

Let not then your good be evil spoken of. – Romans 14:16

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! – Matthew 18:7

In this life, while we yet see through a glass darkly (I Corinthians 13:12), it will eventually happen that we are considered worldly by another Christian. For example, we as Christian women may think we are guarding modesty. We are careful of necklines and hemlines, and are careful that clothing is loose enough. To some brethren, however, women’s clothing must look like it’s from another era, be flowery/lacy or extremely plain. Some brethren do not allow that a woman may wear jeans. The Lord gives the comprehensive requirement that clothing be modest. We are indeed accountable to the Lord to do our utmost to be modest women and to wear modest clothing.

That does not mean that we need to change our style of dress every time someone makes a critical comment. We do however need to take the criticism as an opportunity to reevaluate our standards, measuring ourselves against God’s holy Word. We should also have the mindset of being careful not to give offense to others. We do not want to insist on our own way, without regard to the welfare of others. The bottom line is, we need to love the brethren, and do what is good for the brethren.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. – Galatians 5:13-16

It may be that the brother is overly scrupulous. If that is the case, we need to love our brother by helping him, in gentleness and meekness, to recognize his error:

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle uto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. – II Timothy 2:24-26

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on Sunday, July 23rd, 2006 at 10:49 pm and is filed under Bible Thoughts, Sunday Thoughts.
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